UTILIZING SNOWBALL THROWING TECHNIQUE TO IMPROVE STUDENTS' SPEAKING SKILLS AT THE EIGHTH GRADE OF SMPN 1 SATAP PAKKALOLO

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the Snowball throwing technique in improving the speaking skills of eighth-grade students at SMPN 1 SATAP Pakkalolo. The research adopts a pre-experimental design, specifically the OneGroup Pretest-Posttest Design, which involves a single experimental group undergoing both pre-test and post-test assessments. The population consists of all eighth-grade students of SMPN 1 SATAP Pakkalolo, with a sample of 18 students from the academic year 2022/2023. The findings reveal a significant improvement in students' speaking skills after the implementation of the Snowball throwing technique. The mean score increased from 23.14 in the pre-test, categorized as
"Poor," to 32.03 in the post-test, categorized as "Average." Although the method proved effective in enhancing speaking skills, the results indicate that students’ performance remains in the "Average" category, suggesting the need for additional
interventions to achieve greater proficiency. Overall, the study confirms that the Snowball throwing technique is a viable and impactful instructional strategy for improving speaking skills in EFL classrooms, laying a foundation for further skill development.

Keywords: Snowball throwing technique, Speaking Skills, Describing People.